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SLAVERY IN DETROIT
BY J. A. GIRARDIN SEPTEMBER 27, 1872
READ BEFORE THE DETROIT PIONEER SOCIETY
In ancient times the city of Detroit and vicinity had slaves among its inhabitants. The old citizens generally purchased them from marauding bands of
Indians, who hod captured the negro slaves in their war depredations on plantations. Many were thus brought from Virginia, New York, and Indiana, and
sold to the inhabitants of Detroit, sometimes for nominal prices. Among our
old citizens who were slaveholders in the olden times, were tho late Major Joseph Campau, Georgo McDongall, James Duporon Baby, Abbott & Finchley, and
several others. The negro slaves wero well treated by their owners. Many of
those poor captives when sold and released were at once well takon care of by
our ancient inhabitants. Sometimes the price of a negro slave was regulated
according to his intrinsic value, but the price was quite high for those days.
For instance: A negro boy named Frank, aged 12 years, the property of the
late Phillip Jonciere, of Bolle Fontaine, now Springwells, was sold on the 22d
day of October, 1793, by William Roe, acting auctioneer, to the late Hon.
James Duporon Baby, for the sum of £213, New York currency, equal to
$532.50 of our money. Mr. Baby being the highest bidder, he, Frank, was
adjudged to him for the benefit of Mr. Joucier's estate.
In the records of baptism of St. Anne's Church, several persons of color
we find recorded as having received the sacrament of baptism, and, in the absence of family names we find that the names of "Margaret," for instauce,
a negress, "unknown" would be entered in the absonce of her regular family
name; several instances of this kind are entered in the old records. During
the administration of tho Governor and Judges of the Territory of Michigan,
several negroes received donation lots. Among them was a well known negro
named "Pompey," the property of the late James Abbott. As a class the
negroes were esteemed by our ancient population; many of them could speak
the French language fluently, especially those living with their French masters.
But little cruelty was practiced by their owners. There was no Wendell Phillips nor any Lloyd Garrison, nor any "higher law doctrine," expounded in
those days to disturb the mind of the slave or the slaveholder. Every one lived
in arcadian simplicity aud contentment. The negro was satisfied with his position, and rendered valuable services to his master, and was ever ready to help
him against the treacherous Indians. During the war of 1812 several of them
accompanied their masters to the battlefield, and materially helped their masters and the troops.
By an ordinance enacted by Congress, dated July 13, 1787, entitlcd "An act
for the government of the territory of the United States northwest of the Ohio
river," there was a clause in Article VI, saying that "there shall be neither
slavery nor involuntary servitude in the said territory, otherwise than in the
punishment of crimes." This was a safeguard by Congress to prevent the extension of slavery northwest of the Ohio river. Notwithstanding this wise
provision our ancestors paid but little attention to it, for whenever a spruce
negro was brought by the Indians he was sure to find a purchaser at a reasonable
price. Most every prominent man in those days had a slave or two, especially
merchants trading with the Indians.
Detroit and vicinity was a heaven to the slave compared to the Southern
States, although slavery was carried on on a moderate scale here, there being
no cotton or rice fields to employ them in, their labor beiug on the plantations
near Detroit, or at their masters' houses. The master, once attached to his
"Sambo' a great price would have to be paid to buy him.
The late Judge May had a slave-womnn who had come to his hands for a
debt owed him by one Grauchin. This faithful slave served the Judge some
25 years. Mr. Joseph Campau, an extensive trader in those days, had as many
as ten slaves at different times. Among them was a young negro named
"Crow," who was quite a favorite of Mr. C., who had him dressed in scarlet, a
contrast with his color. This negro, to the amusement of the inhabitants of
the old town, used to ascend old St. Anne's Church steeple and there perform
some of his gymnastic tricks. He was supple and clastic as a circus-rider,
He had boon purchased at Montreal by Mr. Campau. He was afterwards
drowned from one of Mr. C.'s batteaux. "Hannah," another intelligent colored woman, was purchased at Montreal by Mr. 0. This faithful slave, after
serving him soveral years, married "Patterson," also a slave. "Mulot," one
of the most honest and faithful of all slaves, also belonged to Mr. Campau,
who very often employed him as confidential clerk. This slave died but a few
years ago at a very advauced age, respected and esteemed for his great integrity
and fidelity.
The slave "Tetro" was among the favorites of Maj. Campau. He, too, was
as faithful and as honest as tho day was long.
The late Gen. John R. Williams also possessed a slave, named "Hector."
He, too, was faithful and trustworthy. In the year 1831 Daniel Leroy, 01msteod Chamberlain, and Gideon 0. Whittemore sold to Col. Mack, Gen.
Williams, and Maj. Campau tho newspaper called the Oakland Chronicle, the
office being transferred hero, and the well known slave "Hector" was placed in
charge of it. When the late Col. Sheldon McKnight entered to take possession
ho was fiercely resisted by "Hector," who showed fight, and the Colonel had
to retreat. This paper was afterward mergedd into the Free Press of this city.
Ann Wyley, a formcr slave, suffered the extreme penalty of the law for having stolen six guineas from the firm of Abbott & Finchly. She was sentenced
to death by a justice of the ponce, and buried on the spot where St. Anne's
Church now stands, which ground was used as a place of burial in early days;
and when, in 1817, the foundations of the church were being excavated for, the
body of this unfortunate woman was found, face downward. It was supposed
that she was in a trance at the time of her burial. This incident was related
to me by an old lady, somo years ago, who knew all about tho facts, and who
has since died.
The late Joseph Drouillard, of Petite Cote, Canada, had two daughters.
Upon the marriage of ono of them to tho grandfather of your humble servant
she received a farm; the other received two slaves as her marriage portion.
This goes to show that the negro in those days was considered a chattel. Several
of our French farmers on both sides of the river had one or more of them.
Many anecdotes can be related of Africa's sons amoug our ancestors, and
they as a class were well cared for and educated by their kind masters. I
could digress and go into more details, but the present sketch will suffice to
show our modern philanthropists that the slaves here in Detroit were as well
treated as the families in which their lot had been cast. The question may be
asked: "How did slavery die out here?" The owners of slaves, after having
received their services for a number of years generally would liberate them, or
sometimes sell them to parties outsido of the Territory. When the celebrated
ordinance of 1787 was extended over the Northwest, Michigan assumed for the
first time the first grade of government, and the laws of Congress were put in
force, no more slaves were afterward allowed to be brought into tho Territory,
and slavery was known no more here!
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SALE OF NEGRO MAN POMPEY.
COPY OF DEED FURNISHED BY W. W. RACKUS OF DETROIT.
Know all men by these presents: That I, James May of Detroit, for and in
consideration of the sum of forty-five pounds, New York currency, to me in
hand paid by John Askin, Esqr., of Detroit, the receipt whereof I do hereby
acknowledge to be fully satisfied and paid, have sold and delivered, and by
these presents, in plain and open market, do bargain, sell, and deliver unto the
said John Askin, Esqr., a certain negro man, Pompey by name, to have and
to hold the said negro unto the said John Askin, Esqr., his heirs, executors,
administrators, and assigns forever; and I, the said James May, for my heirs,
executors, and assigns, against all manner of person or persons, shall and will
warrant and forever defend by these presents.
In witness whereof, I have herenuto set my hand and seal this nineteenth
day of October, in tho year of our Lord ono thousand seven hundred and ninety-four.
Signed,
JAMES MAY.
In presence of
Robert Stevens
I do horoby make over my whole right, title, and interest in the above mentioned negro man Pompey to Mr. James Donnolson of this place for the sum
of fifty pounds, New York currency, the receipt of which I do hereby acknowledge, as witness my hand and seal at Detroit, this third day of Jauuarv, 1795.
Signed, JOHN ASKIN.
Witness, William McClintock.
Michigan Historical Collections Vol 1 1877
By Michigan Historical Commission, Michigan State Historical Society,
Pioneer and Historical Society of the State of Michigan, Michigan Pioneer
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